JOHANNESBURG – A Diepsloot family is demanding answers after their teenage son was allegedly gunned down by police at the weekend.
Sixteen-year-old Thabani Mazibuko was allegedly shot six times by two police officers who were travelling in an unmarked vehicle, dressed in civilian clothes.
The Independent Investigative Directorate said it was investigating the case.
According to reports, a scuffle ensued after the teenager tried to prevent the two men from leaving with his female friends, resulting in the teen being fatally killed.
However, police claim Mazibuko was trying to hijack a police vehicle when police opened fire.
But Mazibuko's family says he was no gangster and was not violent.
"He's not a gangster. Even if he had walked in here, you'd be shocked that they could claim that he did such things? If he had a gun and a panga, why didn't he shoot first? Why did they shoot him six times? He ran away. If you could see the distance he ran from, like, it doesn't make sense. Doesn't really make sense to us. He's not a gangster," his aunt said.